FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT GRAND JURY - PAGE 2

State Attorney Jeff Ashton is asking members of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority to appear before a grand jury investigating alleged violations of the state's sunshine laws. In an email to the Orlando Sentinel, Ashton's chief assistant said late Wednesday that board members who agree to appear will receive no form of immunity but will be given the opportunity "to answer questions and tell their side of the story. " Richard Wallsh said all five board members have been asked to appear.

A Seminole County grand jury today indicted a 25-year-old Sanford man, accused of fatally shooting a man who was riding in the front seat of a car carrying them both through Altamonte Springs on Interstate 4 during a July 4 t h all nighter. Defendant Junior Gedeon was on house arrest at the time and should have been home, according to court records. Killed was 23-year-old Rodney "Dread" Porter of Orlando. According to Altamonte Springs police, five people were in the car and had been club hopping.

Suspended Orlando expressway-authority board member Scott Batterson, former state Rep. Chris Dorworth and his girlfriend were indicted Wednesday by a grand jury, charged with violating state public-records laws. The charges are the latest - and most likely the last - to grow out of a nine-month investigation of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. In announcing the indictment, State Attorney Jeff Ashton said the 15-member grand jury thinks a "culture of corruption" reigned at the authority but not with its employees.

Board members of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority will appear before a grand jury on Thursday as part of the state attorney's eight-month investigation into the toll-road agency. So far, three members of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority have confirmed they will voluntarily answer grand jury questions: Chairman Walter Ketcham, Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs and Noranne Downs. The two remaining board members, Marco Pena and Scott Batterson, did not respond to calls from the Orlando Sentinel.

The Orange County grand jury listening to testimony in the case of a 100-plus bullet, deputy-involved shooting that left a wanted man dead, may not be able to reach a decision today, according to State Attorney Lawson Lamar. The grand jury broke for an hour-long lunch after hearing three hours of testimony from citizens and a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigator. Lamar, who is attending the private hearing, emerged from the courtroom at noon and said a decision in the matter could come as late as tomorrow.

WASHINGTON -- U.S. Rep. Gary Condit, D-Calif., has been subpoenaed by a grand jury investigating the disappearance of Washington intern Chandra Levy, The Washington Post reported Tuesday. Law-enforcement sources told the newspaper that Condit, 53, is expected to testify before the D.C. Superior Court grand jury early next month. The grand jury is looking into what happened to Levy and allegations of obstruction of justice involving the congressman and possibly others.

In 2003, a grand jury blasted the Broward County school system for taking too long to get rid of mold in classrooms and failing to repair leaky roofs and faulty air conditioners. The panel outlined its concerns in a 44-page report, strongly recommending changes the state of Florida needed to make to force school districts to improve indoor-air quality while underscoring that children were especially vulnerable to the potentially harmful effects of mold. Although Broward schools have since spent millions of dollars trying to fix its problems, the more sweeping statewide grand jury recommendations have been largely ignored.

PENSACOLA -- A grand jury found that Escambia County's sheriff did nothing wrong when he bought a helicopter from another Florida Panhandle county, which later received 13 surplus vehicles. Sheriff Ron McNesby was authorized to purchase the helicopter and dispose of the surplus vehicles, the grand jury reported Thursday. The Bell OH-58 helicopter was purchased in 2001 from Calhoun County for $75,000.

Shhh. Allan Keen wants to keep secrets. Mr. Keen, former chairman of the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority, wants a grand jury report to remain sealed. Why? It's likely critical of political fundraising practices at the toll agency during Mr. Keen's watch. The transparency of Mr. Keen's effort, documented by an appeal he has filed with the 5th District Court of Appeal, is obvious. It's also weak, both legally and ethically. The grand jury wants the public to know all the circumstances and facts.

A Winter Springs man who told police he doesn't know why he strangled his neighbor was indicted Tuesday on a charge of first-degree murder by a Seminole County grand jury. Jeffrey Tilton, 30, was arrested three weeks ago, the day the body of his neighbor, Marie Alers, was found nude inside a box in his apartment. Police checked the apartment because her boyfriend spotted her glasses, earrings and keys outside its door. When police questioned Tilton, he told them he abducted her, dragged her into his apartment, sexually assaulted her and then crushed her larynx.